Hot Stuff

“Yesss!” Lauren cheers. “I love koalas!”

I wrap my arm around Sarah’s shoulders and shake her forward hard enough that she laughs, agreeing, “Koalas it is, then.”

I smile down at my daughter and mouth, “Thank you.”

She shakes her head, but with the way she does it, I’m not sure she’s actually even feeling all that put out.

Hayden and Lauren race ahead, and Sarah and I follow at a leisurely stroll.

It’s strange, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this kind of contentment before. This peaceful feeling of being with my kids without scrutiny and pressure to make up for all the days I’ve been gone, like some kind of penance.

It’s just a fun day—plain and simple. And sometimes simple is all you really need.

Lauren’s on the phone when we catch up, and her face is drawn, unfortunately pulling the mood into a different aura. Even Sarah pushes out from under my arm and looks at me with concern as Lauren talks into the phone at her ear.

“Okay, but where the hell is Phil?” She shakes her head, grinding her jaw a little bit. “I know that.” She takes a deep breath and punches out at the air, likely in an effort not to verbally lash out at the caller. “Of course, Shell. I’m not saying I won’t help. I’ll come get the kids right now. I’m just saying you deserve a little better than this is all.”

When she finally hangs up the phone, it’s painfully obvious that our nice, simple day is about to be cut short. I reach out and squeeze Lauren’s arm, my kids there or not, because she looks like she could really use the comfort.

In fact, in a strange turn of events, my kids descend on her like wolves, huddling close in the hopes that it’ll make her feel better.

“What’s going on?” I ask. “Something with Shell?”

Lauren heaves a deep sigh before giving as short of an explanation as she can manage. “She has to stay at work for another shift, but Phil is doing God knows what and says he can’t get the kids.”

“We’ll go get them, then.”

She frowns and smiles at the same time. “Garrett, that’s so sweet, but no. You guys should stay here. Finish. Enjoy yourselves. I’ll take an Uber home and go pick them up since the shithead can’t seem to make time in his schedule.”

Sarah laughs, absolutely tickled at Lauren’s name-calling.

“Lauren, we’ll take you,” I say firmly.

“I’m sorry, but no,” she refuses again, and my eyebrows draw together. Why the hell is she fighting me so hard on this?

“Lauren—”

“Garrett, the kids are at my dad’s house, okay?”

And just like that, my good mood is ruined. Fuck.

“What’s at her dad’s house?” Hayden whispers to Sarah, and Sarah shrugs, her spidey senses starting to tingle.

“Guys,” I say to the two of them. “Can you give us a minute?”

Sarah responds immediately with an expected, “No.”

But it’s Hayden’s, “No way,” that catches me off guard.

“Guys,” I stress, but neither of them even begins to budge. Instead, they fall into a pose, leaning into each other and crossing their arms over their chests. They haven’t looked this much like twins since they were born.

Lauren, unfortunately unapprised of the very important first rule of parenting—hold your ground—caves immediately. “My dad doesn’t know we’re dating. He’s your dad’s boss.”

I sink my head into my hands and groan.

“Oh, I am so putting this in my next romance novel,” Sarah says with absolute glee.

It’s safe to say, this is not the way I wanted this day to go.

“I’m so sorry to do this to you guys, but I hope I’ll get to see you again soon.”

“Me too,” Hayden says eagerly, stepping up and hugging Lauren around the neck. When he pulls back, Lauren looks at Sarah longingly, and without warning, Sarah steps forward and pulls Lauren into a hug too.

To say I’m shocked would be an egregious understatement. My Sarah—she doesn’t hug anyone but me.

Lauren damn near has tears in her eyes as she looks at me over Sarah’s shoulder, and if I had a mirror, I’d probably find a shimmer in my own eye.

Because for as disappointed as I am at the circumstances of this day’s end, maybe, just maybe, it’s gone better than I ever could have hoped.

January 30th

Lauren

It’s been two days since I had to leave Garrett and his kids at the zoo and take an Uber to go pick up my sister’s kids from my dad’s, and I haven’t been able to see Garrett since. He spent last night at the firehouse—the beginning of a seventy-two-hour shift—and today, I’ve been trying to play brownnoser at work.

Rebecca was so gracious about covering my appointments on Tuesday, but I’m still new here, and I don’t want her to think I’m going to be leaving her holding the bag all the time.